Valve for hydraulic elevators.



A.- R. KLINGLOPP. VALVE FOR HYDRAULIC ELEVATORS. APPLICATION FILED00T.14, 1905.

904,136. Patented Nov. 17, 1908.

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. A. R. KLINGLOPF.

VALVE ron HYDRAULIG ELEVATORS.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 14, 1905.

Patented Nov. 17, 1908.

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PATENT oEEIoE.

ANDREW R. KLINGLOFF, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

VALVE FOR HYDRAULIC ELEVATORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 17, 1908 Application filed October 14, 1905. Serial No.282,745.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW R. KLINe- LOFF', a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State ofMassachusetts, have invented a new and useful Valve for HydraulicElevators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of elevators which are operated byhydraulic pressure. Y

The especial object of this invention is to provide a self-containedvalve for hydraulic elevators which will permit the elevator-car to bestarted promptly either up or down as desired, and which will preventsuch sudden stoppages of the elevator car as will be liable to injurethe apparatus.

To this end this invention consists of a form of elevator valve havingits operating piston arranged to control a number of ports or passages,whereby the valve will be permitted to move freely from a centralposition to the end of its travel in either direction, but in which thespeed at which the valve can move back to central position from eitherend of its travel will be limited by the flow of liquid throughrestricted or throttled passages.

This invention also consists of special arrangements and combinations ofparts as hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in theclaims at the end of this specification.

In the accompanying two sheets of drawings, I have illustrated myinvention applied to an elevator of the direct plunger type.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of sufficient parts of ahydraulic elevator to illustrate the application of this inventionthereto. Fig. 2 is a side view of the valve. Fig. 3 is an enlargedsectional view of the valve showing the parts in the normal or centralposition occupied when the elevator is at rest. Fig. 4 is a detail viewshowing the position of the parts when the valve is shifted to permitthe elevator-car to descend, and Fig.5 is a detail view showing theposition of the parts when pressure is admitted to cause the elevatorcar to ascend.

In the operation of modern long run, high-speed elevators it isdesirable that the controlling devices should be so constructed that theelevator car can be started quickly either to move up or down asdesired, and when the elevator car is traveling with its maximumvelocity it is desirable that it should stop comparatively slowly. Thisis particularly true of the high-speed elevator of the direct plungertype. In this class of elevators ii a too sudden stop isattempted whenthe car is traveling up, it sometimes happens that the momentum of thecar, and particularly the momentum of the counterweight will besuflicient to cause the plunger to continue to travel up even after thesupply of water is shut ofi thus causing the plunger to be separatedfrom the water, and producing what is known as a bounding action. On theother hand, when the water is being discharged from the elevator casingand the car is descending rapidly, if it is attempted to stop the cartoo quickly, it results in producing a heavy water-hammer which isliable to break or injure the parts. To overcome these objections I haveprovided a valve for hydraulic elevators which is especially adapted foruse in connection with an elevator of the direct plunger type, but whichis applicable to any of the types of elevators operated by hydraulicpressure.

To secure the desired slow centering or stopping action of a valveconstructed according to this invention, I utilize the operating pistonof the main valve for shutting off and controlling the flow of waterthrough passages which are ordinarily unrestricted, and I accomplishthis result by providing a number of ports or openings'substantially atthe center of the travel of the controlling piston. The controllingpiston itself is provided with a cup'packing which moves over the portsor passages last referred to. WVhen this cuppacking is at one side ofthe central ports or passages it will resist the How of water tending tomove in one direction, but will permit a free flow of water through saidports or passages in the opposite direction.

In addition to the ports or passages directly controlled by the piston Iprovide two adjustably throttled or restricted passages, one of whichcontrols the flow of water when the main valve is moving down towardscentral position, the other of which controls the flow of water when themain valve is moving up towards central position.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a detail description of oneparticular form of elevator-valve embodying this invention, as shown inFig. 1, A designates the plunger casing. The plunger-casing A isprovided at its upper end with a packingbox B, and extending down intothe plunger casing is a plunger P which supports the elevator car C. 7

Opening into the plunger casing A is a supply pipe 10, and also openinginto the plunger casing A is an outlet pipe 11. The flow of water to andfrom the plunger casing through the pipes 10 and 11 respectively iscontrolled by a valve, whiclnwhen constructed according to thisinvention, has provision for preventing too sudden stoppages of theelevator car.

The particular form of valve herein illustrated comprises a middle valvesection or casing 12, a top casing section 13 having a discharge opening14, and a bottom casing section 15 having a discharge opening 16.

Fastened onto the middle section of the valve casing is a pilot valvecasing 17. Carried by the upper valve casing section 13 is a casing 18containing the link-work for operating the pilot valve.

The interior construction of the pilot and main valves and thearrangement of pas sages therein are most clearly illustrated in thesecond sheet of drawings.

As shown in Fig. 3, 19 designates a lever which can be shifted by a ropeR from the elevator car in the usual way. The lever 19 is pivoted in thecasing 18, and is connected at its inner end to an intermediate point ofa lever 20. One end of the lever 20 is connected by a link 21 to themain valve stem, and the other end of the lever 20 is connected to thepilot valve stem 22.

Mounted in the upper section 13 of the main valve casing is a lining 23,and moving up and down in the lining 23 is a cup-packing or piston 24carried by the main-valve stem. Also mounted in the upper section 13 ofthe valve casing is a lining 25 which is slotted or provided with outletpassages, and moving up and down in the lining 25 is a cup-packing orpiston 26, which, when lifted, opens connection between the pipe 11 andthe discharge passage 14. Mounted in the second valve casing section isa lining or pipe 27 and movable up and down in the pipe 27 is acup-packing or piston 28 which separates the inlet and outlet pipes 10and 11. Mounted in the lower section 15 of the valve casing is a lining29 which is provided with slots or openings for admitting pressure, andmovable up and down in the lining 29 is a cup-packing or piston 30 whichnormally cuts off pressure from the pressure pipe 10, but which admitspressure therethrough when moved down past the slots or openings in thelining 29.

Secured on the lower end of the main valve stem is a thimble-shapedpiece 31 having ring-shaped operating piston 52 having an inner annularenlargement or groove 50, and provided with an annular cup-packing 32.The operating piston 32 moves up and down on a guide-pipe 33, which itfits loosely so that water may flow between the guide and piston. Theguide pipe 33 is provided with a transverse partition and with a centraltube 34.

The opening into the central tube 34 is controlled by a throttling plugThere is a free connection through ports between the bottom passage ofthe valve controlled from the pilot valve, as hereafter explained, andthe annular space around the central tube 34, this annular space havingports or outlets 51 opening therefrom arranged substantially centrallywith respect to the run of the operating piston 32 which shifts the mainvalve.

When the operating piston is above the central ports or passages 51,water admitted through the same will act directly to lift the mainvalve, but when the operating piston is below these ports or openings,the cupshaped nature of the packing 32 will cut ofi' the flow of waterdown through said central ports or openings, and pressure for liftingthe main valve can be admitted only through the passage or restrictedopening controlled by a throttling-plug 37.

The pine or passage at the bottom of the valve is connected by ato-and-from pipe 38 to the pilot valve casing 17.

The pilot valve may be of any ordinary or usual construction. Forexample, the pilot valve casing may be provided with a lining or insidepipe 40, and formed in the pilot valve casing may be a passage 41 constituting, in effect, a continuation of the pipe 38. The pilot valvecasing is also con nected through a passage 42 with the pressurechamber, and is also connected by a passage 43 with the exhaust or mainoutlet. The pilot valve stem is provided with the usual cup-packings orpistons which are arranged so that when the pilot valve is raised,pressure from the passage 42 will be admitted through passage 41 to thepipe 38. When the pilot valve is moved down the pipe 38 will beconnected through passage 41 to the exhaust passage 43.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5 for a more complete description of howthe operating piston acts to automatically control and shut oli' thecentral ports or openings so as to insure a flow of water through arestricted or throttled passage when the valve is mov ing back fromeither end of its travel to a normal central or stopping position, itwill be seen from the arrows in Fig. 4, that so long as the operatingpiston 32 is above the inlet ports or passages 51, water will have afree admission to or from the annular space around the member 33, and asthe cupshaped nature of the piston and annular shape of the yieldingpacking 32 permits the latter to yield outwardly when pressure isapplied below so as to allow a free upward flow of water past the same,the water will fill the chamber inside of the thimble-shaped 1 of portsand proportions of parts can be piece 31, when the piston has moved toits upper limit. When, however, it is desired to move the controllingpiston back from its lifted or raised position illustrated in Fig. 4 toits central or stopping position shown in Fig, 3, it will be seen thatwater will be trapped or contained within the chamber inside of thethimble-shaped piece 31, and owing to the cup-shaped nature of thepacking 32, pressure from above will close the packing against the pipeand prevent a direct outward flow of water from this chamber, thereforethe water can be exhausted and the valve permitted to close only sorapidly as the water will run down through the central pipe 84, asindicated by the dotted arrow in Fig. l. All this time the water betweenthe pipe 33 and easing I?) has a free outlet through the ports 51 and53. On the other hand, when the operating piston moves down below itscentral position,

the cup-shaped character of the packing will permit the water to beexhausted from the space below the piston, upwardly past said packing,as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 5, but when pressure is admitted toraise the operating piston and bring the main valve up to its stoppingor central position (Fig. from a bottom position, as shown in Fig. 5, itwill be seen that the cupshaped nature of the packing 32 will closeandprevent the water from passing down around the pipe 33 and actingdirectly on the bottom side of the piston, and that pressure acting onthe piston directly to raise the valve up to its central position canonly be admitted through. the pipe or passage controlled by the throttleplug 57.

As a result of the entire operation of my elevator valve as thusconstructed, it will be seen that I have provided a valve having veryslow movements towards its central or normal position, the rate ofcentering movement from position at one side of the center beingcontrolled by the throttle plug 35, and the rate of movement whenreturned to central position from the other side of the center beingcontrolled by the throttle plug 37; but that the valve will be permittedto have an unrestrained or quick opening movement from either side ofits central position.

In the use of a valve as thus constructed upon a'hydraulic elevator, theelevator can start quickly either up or down from a condition of rest,but after the car has started in motion in either direction, thecontrolling action of the operating piston of the main elevator valvewill prevent any such sudden stoppages or reversals as would be liableto result in accident or injury of parts.

I am aware that many changes may be made in the details of theconstruction of my elevator valve, and that the arrangement [widelydeparted from by those who are skilled in the art without departing fromthe scope of my invention as expressed in the claims. I do not wish,therefore, to be limited to the particular form of valve I have hereinshown and described, but

hat I do claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is 1. In a valve of the class described, the combination of amain valve, an operating piston therefor, connections for admitting orexhausting pressure to shift the main valve through ports controlled bythe operating piston, means for entrapping water in said operatingpiston, and a restricted passage for the discharge of water therefrom.

2. The combination of a main valve, an operating piston therefor, apilot valve admitting and exhausting pressure to shift said operatingpiston, ports controlled by said operating piston through which thepressure controlled by the pilot valve is adapted to pass, means forentrapping water in said operating piston, and restricted passages forthe admission and passage of water to and from said last named means.

3. In a valve of the class described, the combination of a. main valve,an ope 'ating piston therefor, ports or passages controlled by saidoperating piston, connections for supplying and exhausting pressurethrough said ports or passages to shift the operating piston, said portsor passages being located at the central point of the travel of thepiston, means for entrapping water when the piston moves to the end ofits stroke, and restricted passages through which said water may bedischarged.

4t. The combination of a main valve, an operating piston therefor, portsor passages located at the central point of the travel of the operatingpiston, and controlled thereby, a pilot 'alvc supplying and exhaustingpressure through said ports or passages to shift said operating piston,means for eutrapping water when the operating piston moves to the end ofits stroke, and passages for the escape of water therefrom.

In a valve of the class described, the combination of a main valve, anoperating thimble connected to move the main valve stem, and having anoperating piston, an annular cup packing thereon a central guide pipe onwhich the operating piston runs, a restricted passage for exhausting thewater from the operating thimble, and a restricted passage for admittingpressure to act upon the operating piston.

6. In a valve of the class described, the

combination of a main valve, an operating thimble connected to shift themain valve and having an operating piston, an annular cup packingthereon a central pipe on which the operating piston runs, restrictedpassages and a pilot valve controlling the exhaustion of water from theoperatin thimble through. a restricted passage and controlling theadmission of pressure to act on the annular piston through anotherrestricted passage.

'7. In a valve of the class described, the combination of a main valve,an operating thimble having an operating piston, a guidepipe on whichsaid piston runs, said guide pipe having a transverse partition and restricted tube for exhausting the water from the operating thimble withports or passages from the annular space around the exhaust tubecontrolled by the operating piston, throttle-plugs controlling theadmission of pressure acting on the operating piston and the dischargeof water from the exhaust tube, and a pilot valve for admitting andexhausting pressure to operate the main valve.

8. In a valve of the class described, the combination of a main valve,an operating thimble shaped piston having a cup-shaped annular packing,and a guide-pipe on which said piston runs, said guide pipe having a.transverse partition and restricted tube for exhausting the water fromthe operating piston with ports or passages from the annular spacearound the exhaust tube controlled by the operating piston.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination of a cylinder, aringshaped piston therein having a chamber, a valve connected with saidpiston a guide pipe loosely fitting in the piston and adapted to entersaid chamber when the piston moves over the pipe, said pipe having portslocated substantially centrally with respect to the travel of the end ofthe piston, also having unrestricted passages for the water entering orleaving said ports, and a restricted outlet for water from said chamber,and an annular cup packing on the piston adapted to close against thepipe when pressure is admitted between the pipe and piston from one sideand to open with the pressure when admitted from the other direction.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination of a hollow ringshaped piston, a valve connected with said piston a guide for the pistonfitting loosely therein and having a passage and ports communicatingwith the interior of said passage and an annular cup-shaped packing onthe piston adapted to close against the guide under the influence ofpressure from one side and to open under the influence of pressure fromthe other to let water through.

11. In a device of the class described, the combination of a hollowring-shaped piston, a valve connected with said piston a guide for thepiston fitting loosely therein and having a passage and portscommunicating with said passage through the walls of the guide, portscommunicating with said passage, means comprising a passage forexhausting liquid from the interior of said passage and an annular cupshaped packing on the piston adapted to close against the guide underthe influence of pressure from one side and to open under the influenceof pressure from the other to let water through, said piston having anannular enlargement at its end for receiving the end of said packingwhen open.

12. In a device of the class described, the combination of a hollowring-shaped piston, a valve connected with said piston a guide for thepiston loosely fitting therein and having an unrestricted passage, portscommunicating with said passage through the walls of the guide and arestricted passage opening from the end of the guide into the hollowpiston, with an annular cup-shaped packing on the piston adapted toclose against the guide under the influence of pressure from within thepiston, and to open under the influence of pressure from the end of thepiston, where by the piston may be started rapidly in either directionfrom a central position, but its mo tion toward the central positionfrom either end will be retarded.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

ANDREWV R. KLINGLOFF.

Witnesses NATHAN HEARD, W. H. TEBEAU.

